Mayock concerned about Clowney’s mentality

INDIANAPOLIS – NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock is ready to hold court for the next week and help anchor the league’s television coverage.

He likes the 2014 draft class, which is headed by South Carolina’s defensive end Jadeveon Clowney.

“This year, the draft is stacked,” Mayock said. “I think you can get a quality player for three or four rounds.”

After the 2013 collapse, the Falcons are set to pick sixth overall in this deep draft. They have all seven of their picks and
could end up with three or four compensatory picks.

“One reason is the playmakers at the top of this draft,” Mayock said. “It’s not just a couple of guys. There are three offensive
tackles that could go in the top 10. Three quarterbacks could go in the top 10. Then you have guys like Khalil Mack, who’s a difference maker. The (Anthony) Barr kid from UCLA, C.J. Mosley from Alabama, and (Sammy) Watkins from Clemson is a tremendous wide receiver.

“I didn’t even mention the safety from Louisville (Calvin Pryor) and the tight end from North Carolina (Eric Ebron).”

While Dimitroff has traded up in the first-round in three of six drafts (50 percent), he might want to keep his picks this season.

“There is more quality at the top end of this draft than I’ve seen in a long time,” Mayock said. “From a position standpoint: wide receiver and offensive tackle are particularly deep. You can go three or four rounds deep this year and get a starting
offensive tackle. There are some pretty good corners, three or four rounds deep..”

It appears that the Falcons would have to trade up to land Clowney.

“If I’m an Atlanta fan, I’m rooting for the three quarterbacks to go as fast as possible, so I’m left with nothing but great position players,” Mayock said.

Most consider Clowney the top player in the draft and Houston has the No. 1 pick.

They could elect to take a quarterback and will be under heavy pressure to select Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel.

The Falcons could trade up to get Clowney, with the Texas dropping back to sixth, where they likely still could Manziel or Central Florida’s Blake Bortles.

But Clowney is not a slam dunk after his level of play dipped dramatically last season. Some teams have questions about his
work ethic.

“I already know that he’s got the physical make-up to be the best player in the draft,” Mayock said. “If you want to compare him to Mario Williams, I think he’s a better football player with more upside than when Mario came out of college. So, from a physical skill-set, this kid is as freaky as they come. He plays a position of critical importance in today’s NFL, which is the ability to get to the quarterback. He can play multiple places on the defense.

“All those things (add) up. My biggest concern is just what’s his mental makeup. How important is it to him when he gets a big paycheck to become the best player in football or is he just going to be happy to be a millionaire. That’s the most critical checking point from an organization (standpoint), is finding out what’s the motivation.

“I know what kind of football player he is when motivated. I just want to know what kind of kid I’m getting.”

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A. Blank you need to hire these people they know what all the players in the draft are going to do when they get to the NFL. WHY did you not hire them first because all of these jerks can get you to the S.B..

clowney seems like a big dummy with he I.Q. of tree, and as soon as he gets the dough will kick back get fat and start hitting the crack pipe kinda like that dummy jamarcus Russell vince young and many others

DOL, I have to agree with REIDTT you do seem to push the CLOWNEY draft pick A LOT!!!

CLOWNEY has a lot of talent and will have a solid rookie year but then what he 's a multi millonaire and has lot's of free time in the offseason? TROUBLE. Two years from now when players make more than him is he going to sit out of training camp? Maybe has a bruised pinky and just isn't feeling it today.. Who knows.

As long as we don't waste our 1st pick on an OLineman, any top defender will be a big pickup for the Falcons. I don't think we need to trade up because there will be top defenders that should be there when we pick at #6. Either Clowney, Mack, Barr, Mozley, Ford... Any of those guys will be a big help...

Dled, Seriously, GIVE IT UP!!!! We are not going to draft CLOWNey. How many more speculative articles are you going to write on this TIRED subject? Are you getting money from his agent or something? Did you see his play last year? He obviously has a work ethic issue, a attitude problem, and his teammates have already said he never worked out or was a team player. Give it up!!!!

I glad he mentioned Ebron. That is the kid I want to see how he handles the pressure and competes. Somebody is going to get a special one if he stays in his right mind and healthy. There is so much distance between him and a person like Lynch it is astonishing

I should have clarified that we need to fix the OLine with Free Agency. The OLine is our biggest weakness. I don't want to bring rookies in here for the OLine because they take longer to produce and wouldn't be very effective the first year.

@ctfalconsfan Clowney will be a cancer in the locker room. He will think he is good enough to do OTA's by IPAD. He will show up out of shape and get hurt in preseason. He will pull a hamstring that will never seem to heal. All he wants is to get paid and go on easy street. If we are going to throw away money, just sign Peria Jerry or Sam Baker to contract extension. Same difference.

Tyger....I always welcome your hbcu perspectives/analysis. At least a dozen or more quality nfl contributors come from the ranks each draft/year.

However, I must ask.....Did you watch the SR Bowl?

McCullers might've been the most disappointing player in Mobile. As big as he is, he gets tossed around rather easily. I was intrigued by the kid also. Mocked him to the Falcons in fact prior to Mobile!

As for Seantrell Henderson, forget it. Dee Ford abused him at the SR Bowl.

He's way too stiff, even for RT. No lateral quickness whatsoever & pass blocking was considered his strong suit.

No more than when he wrote about their need to take Maurkice Pouncey back in 2010. Two other teams that made Super Bowls the last two years move up in the draft to pick difference makes (Seattle moved to get Earl Thomas and the Niners up to get Mike Iupati and Anthony Davis). The Falcons got an injury plagued defensive leader in Weatherspoon.

Reidtt -- You need to chill. The draft was pushed and we're just starting to break this thing down. Plenty more Clowney coming your way! Insulted by your agent reference although I do go al ways back (Brett Favre) with Bus Cook.

@stripesofzebra Mayock is so predictable, anyone who has followed his draft analysis over the last couple of years should actually expect this response. Mayock may not have met Clowney but I'll bet he has had several conversations with Steve Spurrier. That's who I would speak with. The work ethic concerns are valid and we have players every year that have to address such concerns. Mayock has said Clowney is the top talent in the draft. That's not always enough. Everyone who has ever spent any meaningful time in pads and cleats past the high school level knows someone that had all of the athletic ability in the world but was just too stupid to ever realize their potential. For some bizarre reason Gamecock coaches aren't exactly showering Clowney with great testimonial but no...Mike Mayock has probably never met Jadeveon Clowney. Mike Mayock probably wont draft him either though so...

@JSSN@ctfalconsfan NFL rules don't allow people to enter the draft until 3 calendar years post high school graduation. He had no choice but to go back to college unless he wanted to play semi pro ball.